Leading With Grit and Candor in Manufacturing Operations: Mark Carlton

Mark Carlton is the Director of Operations at Schaefer’s Electrical Enclosures, a leading manufacturer of customized electrical enclosures. In his role, he oversees daily operations and strategic initiatives to ensure the efficient production and delivery of high-quality products. With nearly 20 years of manufacturing experience, Mark has held various roles at Schaefer’s, including Project Manager, Plant Engineer, and Operations Manager. 

In this episode…

Building a high-performance team in manufacturing requires navigating fast-paced environments, evolving technology, and retaining top talent while fostering growth. Leaders often struggle to balance operational demands with the human element, like keeping team members engaged, providing meaningful feedback, and navigating tough conversations. How can manufacturing leaders create strong, resilient teams while driving performance and continuous improvement?

According to manufacturing leader and operations manager Mark Carlton, effective leadership begins with understanding each team member’s strengths, fostering honest feedback, and creating an environment of trust where leaders approach difficult conversations with empathy and candor. He recommends using assessments to understand team dynamics, maintaining proactive maintenance systems to handle technological shifts, and encouraging open dialogue to prevent blind spots in decision-making. Managing emotions and prioritizing self-care are also crucial for high-performing leaders.

In this episode of Industry Edge, Michelle Keckler hosts Mark Carlton, Director of Operations at Schaefer’s Electrical Enclosures, to discuss building strong manufacturing teams. Mark talks about providing direct feedback, balancing technology and people, and using failure as a learning tool.